The use of plant extracts is a profound thread woven through human history. In antiquity, civilizations from Egypt to China meticulously prepared herbal infusions and resins for medicine, embalming, and ritual. The Ebers Papyrus and Shennong Ben Cao Jing document early pharmacopeias rooted in empirical observation.
The scientific revolution transformed this ancient wisdom. The 19th-century isolation of morphine from opium poppy marked a pivotal shift from crude extracts to purified active compounds. This paved the way for modern pharmacology, where techniques like supercritical CO2 extraction yield highly standardized ingredients.
Today, this evolution continues. Advanced phytochemistry drives innovations in nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, validating traditional uses with rigorous science while discovering novel applications for humanity’s oldest allies.
